NY’s largest development site

Seneca County and You

“Our Varick facility wouldn’t be where it is today without the help of the Seneca County IDA. Not only do they know the ins-and-outs of the area, but they partnered with us every step of the way to ensure our success.”

Seneca County-based activities and developments:Since its acquisition of a locally operated landfill in 1983, IESI-Seneca Meadows, Inc. (SMI) has become the fourth-largest industrial employer in Seneca County, with approximately 160 employees and a campus encompassing some 2,600 acres.SMI is committed to environmental stewardship, renewable energy and local economic development—all of which have been demonstrated through the company’s more than $40 million investment in a series of recent, environmentally focused projects spearheaded by the company. In addition, SMI has earned numerous accolades for its responsible corporate citizenship, including the 2003 Seneca County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award and a 2004 Congressional proclamation.The company’s primary operation in Seneca County is a 200-acre non-hazardous, solid waste landfill located in the town of Seneca Falls. The Seneca Meadows Landfill, which is slated to expand to more than 350 acres, is the primary disposal facility for hundreds of businesses and municipalities in and around New York State, as well as communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts.A gas-to-energy plant located adjacent to the landfill and owned by Clarence, New York-based Seneca Energy collects methane gas from the landfill and produces 18-megawatt hours of electricity—enough renewable energy to power 18,000 homes. Electricity from this plant will power a nearby industrial park currently under development.Over the past 25 years, SMI has developed a succession of environmentally focused projects and affiliate companies in Seneca County, all under the SMI umbrella. They include:Renewable Resource Park, a landfill gas-powered industrial park currently under development that aims to offer businesses competitive rates for waste heat, methane and electricity.Environmental Education Center, a 3,200-square-foot, community education center that provides school and community environmental outreach programs. The log-cabin-style center has been awarded LEED gold status for its green building construction from the United States Green Building Council.Wetlands Complex, a 576-acre wetlands recreational and educational complex.Seneca Meadows Tire Recycling Facility, a waste tire recycling facility that processes and chips more than two million tires annually.Of the $40 million in investment announced by SMI in recent years, approximately $20 million will be invested in the Renewable Resource Park, which is located across from the landfill on the east side of Route 414. An additional $20 million will be invested in the education center, which opened in 2008, and the wetlands complex currently under development.The Renewable Resource Park expects to welcome its first tenant, H2Gro, a Lewiston, New York-based affiliate of Seneca Energy and a subsidiary of Innovative Energy Systems in the near future. H2Gro is a hydroponic greenhouse company that will construct 20 acres of greenhouses to grow tomatoes and peppers and create upwards of 100 new jobs for Seneca County.SMI also recently received the go-ahead for a 181-acre expansion of its landfill, enlarging the landfill to approximately 380 acres and ensuring the landfill’s continuing operations and growth through 2023.Seneca County Assistance:The Seneca County IDA recognizes the annual direct impact that IESI-Seneca Meadows contributes to the local economy, including jobs, sales tax on goods purchased from local vendors, payments-in-lieu-of-taxes made to various taxing jurisdictions and other community-minded investments. As such, the IDA has supported the long-term retention of these jobs and benefits through the issuance of Industrial Development Solid Waste Disposal Bonds, which are a primary financing mechanism in the State of New York. In 2009, the IDA successfully nominated Seneca Meadows for a Rochester Business Journal Environmental Leadership Award, honoring the company for its mindfulness of the local environment in harvesting methane for the production of renewable energy.